Duty Nobly Done.

The service, at which Mr. M’Millan presided, commenced with the signing of the hymn, “Oh God, our Help in ages past.” The Rev. E.B. Cullen, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, having read psalm 46, prayer was offered by the Very Rev. Thomas Haslett, M.A., D.D.

The Chairman said they were gathered there on a momentous occasion-one that would stand out prominently in the history of Bangor-when the memorial, which had been erected by the townspeople, to perpetuate the memory of those who went from among them and yielded up their lives in the defence of their country during the Great War,  was about to be unveiled by his Grace the Governor of Northern Ireland as the representative of his most gracious Majesty the King. The ceremony was a solemn one, and it was not appropriate for speechmaking, but, as chairman of the committee in charge, he might be permitted to say a few words. He would first express the regret of the committee at the delay that had taken place in the completion of the memorial.      That arose from a variety of circumstances over which they   had   no   control. He    thought they would agree however, that the site selected was suitable and appropriate, and that the finished work reflected on the designer, Mr. T. Eyre Macklin, and the contractors, Messrs. Purdy and Millard, as well as on the committee.  From the outbreak of the war, the response to the call for recruits from Bangor town and district was a generous one. Their young men went forth in large numbers, without hesitation, to fight for their King against the foe that threatened their native land. He would not detain them to relate the history of the heroism of the Ulster Division in France, or of the valorous achievements of their townsmen who served there or in other areas of war, on land, or on sea, or in the air. They did their duty nobly. They saved their country and preserved the freedom of their Motherland and of the world.     Alas! Many of them made the supreme sacrifice, dying that they might live as a free people.    It was to commemorate the men of their town and district who fell that that column had been erected, to preserve to those who remained behind, and to those who came after a record of their bravery and their devotion, and to be an incentive to future generations, should the nation again be in peril. Their memory must never be allowed to fade, and they who remained must strive to prove themselves worthy of their great sacrifice. The committee were indebted to his Grace for the readiness with which be assented to their request that he should perform the ceremony that day. They welcomed him to Bangor as the reprehensive, of their Gracious King, and they also welcomed him in his personal capacity as a leading nobleman of their Province, who had carried out the duties of his high position with dignity and to the cordial satisfaction of all the people of Northern Ireland.

The Governor having performed the unveiling ceremony, the names of the fallen were read by the Town Clerk.

Amidst a most impressive silence, the memorial was dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore (the Rt, Rev. Charles T P Grierson, D.D.). The Archdeacon of Down was in attendance as chaplain to the Bishop.

The sounding of “The Last Post” was fol­lowed by the singing of the hymn, “God of Our Fathers, Known of Old.”

Mr. M’Millan having asked Mr. Fegan, as chairman of the Urban Council, to accept custody of the memorial, Mr. Fegan, in reply, said he had the honour t accent it, to protect and preserve it for all time, in memory of the gallant men who had died for their country.

Captain Bennett, of the Salvation Army, pro­nounced the Benediction which was followed by the sounding of Reveille.

Wreaths were placed by the Governor, the Bangor Urban Council; the General Officer Com­manding the Northern Ireland District, the Officer Commanding No. 502 (Ulster) Bombing Squadron, Royal Air Force; the local ex-Servicemen, and, relative of the fallen.

The members of the Executive Committee of the War Memorial Committee, Mr. T. Eyre Macklin, the designer of the memorial, and Mr. F.H. Purdy, of Messrs. Purdy & Millard, the contractors, were then presented to the Governor.

His Grace, having inspected the ex-Servicemen, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, the singing of the national Anthem brought the solemn proceedings to a close.

The signing throughout the service was led by a massed choir, drawn from the local churches and musical organisations, conducted by Mr. Joseph Douglas. The work in connection with the memorial which was carried out to the satisfaction of all concerned, was in the hands of Messrs. Purdy & Millard, sculptors, 21, College Square North, and 76, Hamill Street, Belfast.

Belfast News-letter, Wednesday, May 25 1927 page 11.